Seat for rotary plug valve



Feb. 17, 1953 P. .`M|KEsKA 2,628,809

SEAT Foa ROTARY PLUG VALVE Filed Feb. 26, 1945 :EQ2 -5 1 2a 49 524647 f5al.

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Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAT FOR ROTARY PLUGVALVE Peter Lawrence Mkeska, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Dole ValveCompany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February26, 1945, Serial No. 579,795

6 Claims. (Cl. 251-103) The present invention relates to a valve. Moreparticularly, the invention concerns a valve structure embodying asealing means formed of mold- 'able non-metallic plastic material whichcooperlformed sealing means which surrounds at least one of the ports ofsaid valve and cooperates with the body and the chamber to preventleakage therebetween.

It is also an object of the present invention `to provide a valve inwhich such sealing means isassociated with the chamber for cooperationwiththe valve body.

It is a further object of the present invention -to provide a valvechamber with which a sealing means is associated in complementaryrelation.

It is a still further object of the present in- 'vention to provide apreformed gasket orV sealing means of moldable synthetic plasticlmaterial 'which possesses a configuration adapted to complement the,form of the valve element with which it is associated.

' In accordance with the general features of the present invention thereis provided a valve structure which comprises a chamber having aplurality of AfiuidA ports, a body adjustably disposed within saidchamber for opening and closing said ports, and Ameans cooperating withsaid body and said chamber for sealing at least one of the fluid portsso as to prevent leakage between the body and the chamber of the valvestructure.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic 'of my inventionare set forth with par- -ticularity in the appended claims. 'Myinvention itself, however, both as to its organization, method ofoperation and manner of construction,

together with further objects andl advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the accompanyingV drawings, in which: yFigure1 represents an elevation of a typical Avalvest'ructure embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an` end elevation of the ture of Figure ;1; t Figurej' is avertical section at a somewhat vlarger scale as seen from the lineIII-III Yof valve struct Figure 2 Withparts in elevation;

4 lower plate 22. Ving effect of packing rings 34 and 35, they are tri'y.deformed when vinserted in place so as to assume Figure 4 is ahorizontal section of the valve `unit of Figure 3 as seen from the lineIV-IV of .Figure 1; and

`seen from Figure of the drawings, casting I6 has formed therein achamber I9 housing the valve body such, for example, as the plug 2U, and

vis closed at t-he top and bottom thereof by the plates '2| and 22 whichare supported by the shoulders 23 and 36, respectively, in said castingI6.

The plug 20, which is generally cylindrical in shape, is provided withaV horizontally extending passageway 24 adapted to communicate with theinlet I'I and outlet I8 in the casting I6 when the valve is opened. Theplug 20 is rotatably mounted about its vertical axis and is capable ofbeing adjusted by means of a handle 25 which is secured to a stud 26 ofoctagonal shape formed on one end of the plug 20 so asto project throughan opening 21 in the upper plate 2 I. The handle 25 is secured to thestud 26 by'means of the bolt 28 and the countersunk washer 29. It-willbeunderstood that the handle 25 may also serve to Vvalve is designed, anannular shoulder 32 is formed on that end of the plug 20 adjacent themounting of the handle 25, and vcooperates with a suitable packingring34 to seal the upper end of the valve. A similar annular shoulder 33 andcooperating packing ring 35 is provided at the opposite end of the plug2|] to assist in guarding against the possibility of leakageof iluld atthe In order to increase the sealmade somewhat oversize andare'compressed and the plug 2i) is substantially at right angles withVthe longitudinal axis of the valve extending from the inlet I1 to theoutlet I8, aV suitablemeans may be provided in said plug 20 to seal theinlet port I1 and outlet port I8.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing,

this sealing means may advantageously take the form of assemblies orloading units. 3.1 andi- 38,.

Since these assemblies are identical in structure,

a description of one of them, namely 31;is deemed yto suiiice for thepurpose of a clear understanding iofjthe'invention.

Assembly' 31 can be introduced through inlet I1 and seated in the bore39. The assembly 31 is `'hell in' jplace by means of a Split ring orsnap washer 4I comprising essentially a metallic ring with asmall gaptherein to allow a radially in- 'wardV compression of the ring tc asmaller diameter when inserted through inlet I1 to tension it-soythatfit will create a radially outward 'expansive force 'whilelocated in the groovel 42 in castingJ I'.

Assembly 31`is'provi'ded with a pair of radially outwardly extendingflanges providing circular groovesffor holdingsealing rings Sand liti,which rings lare sometimes referred to in the art vas i3-rings. Theserings `are provided for the purpose off preventing leakage along theinner sur- ,fajcewof casting '556. Rings 43 and 44 may be lformed of asuitable moldabl'e, non-metallic plas- 'tics material' such, forexample, as rubber, neoprene. orrother like substances.

" Yl.\'/[olded rubber isa specially suitable material for*v making thesealing rings because in normal use-these ringswill be frequently workedso that they may be expected to retain their resilience jandv pliabilityfor a relatively long period of time.

`In `order to increase the effectiveness of' the Yseal, rings '43 and'44 are preferably made oversize and installed under compression so asto becomeide'formed when in place and assume a fiattened O or egg-shapedcross-section. with the 'at 'surfaces of ring 43 abutting against thecentral' radial flangeof assembly 31 andV the cylindricalgsurface ofplug' 2Q, and with the nat surfaces of" ring 44 abutting against Vthebore 39 and the bottom of'the groove in assembly 31. Ring 43 has arolling action; or` else i'irst'a rolling and then a sliding action; onthe cylindrcal surface lof' theplug 2li asthe plug is turned to open or'close the valve, thereby working the ring, reducing wear-thereof due tofriction, and increasing the effectiveness of the seal.

The sealing lassemblv 31 embodies the feature of increasing its sealingeffect in proportion to "increases in'uid pressure in the valve.Assumli'ngx'plug. 2li? is in the closed position, as the-pressure-of thefluid at inlet I1 increases, the later- 'ally' extending annular shankportion of assemblv 31 supporting sealing ring 43 expands radi- "ally"outwa-rdly thereby compressing sealing ring V"431betweenit and thesurface of bore 39, thus increasing thesealing effect. At the same time,

'due' to the riding of sealing ring 43 along the cyflindrical surface ofplug 2li, the assembly 31 is pushed'l against they snap washer 4I, thuscom- -pressing'bothsealing-rings 43l and 44 essentially between theradially outward extending ribs of loading unit 31. Likewise, anincrease in pressure exerts a radially outward force on the internalsurface of assembly 31 as well as a longitudinal force on the snapwasher 4I, thereby squeezingr ring 44 between the adjacent flanges andexerting' an increasingly greaterfsealing effeet with respect to bore39. Hence the action of the assembly or loading unit 31 is to insureagainst leakage in the valve structure, particularly with vexceedinglyhigh pressures.

It will be readily understood that the material `employed in thefabrication of the sealing rings in thev valve assembly must necessarilybe chosen with respect'to the character of the uid to be .handled bythevalve. For instance, a different material may be required for a valveintended to handle natural gas from that of a valve intended to controlthe ilow of water, oil or similar liquids.

Another embodiment. of .thepresent invention liszillustrated Eigure- 5,in which ksealing' means ofv the-type contemplated in. the presentinvention: is in the 'form of a composite assembly or loading unitv 45comprising af'circularly grooved ring 46` and an` annular sleeve 41.Adjacent the internally threaded port 48 is ashoulder 49 for abuttingone side ofY ring Mito restrain it from lateral'movement-towards theleft.

Ring 52 is alsovinstaled under compression in the same manner as ring 44in Figure 3so as to assume Vaflattened O-cross-section` with. the flatsides thereof abutting `against the cylindrical surface of casting Hi'andthe bottom of the grooveI in ring 46.

Since 'the external diameter of assembly1 45 is greater than thediameter of the threaded port 48, .the assembly 45 may be introducedonly through the cylindricalibore that accommodates plug 5 I. I-n otherwords, assembly 45 must beintroduced through the top or bottom ofcasting I6.- before plug 5I andthe remainder of the valve is assembled.

Sealing ring 50. rides on/thecylindrical surface of plug 5I, thusproviding a seal between .theassembly/45: and plug 5I'. Sealing ring 50is alsoinstalled under compression so as to normally-assumea flattenedO-shapedy cross-section. The flat surfaces of-rring' abut thecylindrical surfaces oft ring 46 and plugSI. Sleeve 41 keeps sealingring 50 in place at the time that the lubricated'plug 5I is installed,and acts as a part of theloading unit 45. As .the uid pressureincreases, the longitudinally .extendingl circular shank portion of ring45 encircled `by ring 50 exerts ia` radially outwardV pressure, therebycompressing sealing'ring 50 between it .and sleeve 41. Sealing ring-52.*functions essentially in the same manner as sealing ring 44 shown inFigure 3, for preventing-leakage along the internal surface adjacentinlet 48 and leading to 'the interior bore .of thez casting cooperatingwith plug 5I.

'The sealing assemblies in either the embodiment `shown inl Figures 3and 4 or the modiiied vembodimentshown in Figure-5 may be allowed tofloat ina'circular direction in most cases; How- 'sealing assemblies,such as illustrated, may be used in valves havingfa pl'uralityof-4inlets and/ or i is outlets; that is, one assembly associated with eachport:l It will also be understood that a single sealing assembly orloading unit may be employed, such, for example, as in connection withthe inlet port only, or the outlet port only.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, ofcourse, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, sincemany modifications may be made, and I therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina valve structure, a casing having .a plurality of ports therein, aplug rotatably journaled in said casing for opening and closing saidports, a ring disposed in each of said ports having a side face incontact with said plug, a recessed portionhat the outer peripheral edgeof said side face, an annular groove spaced from said recessed portionand a flared throat area adjacent the opening of said ports, a iirstseal ring dis- Vposed in said recessed portion in sealing engage mentwith said plug, a second seal ring disposed in said annular groove insealing engagement with said casing and a `split ring disposed in agroove in said casing abutting a side face of said ring, the other sideface of said ring closely fit ting the surface of said plug.

2. In a valve structure, a casing having a plurality of ports connectedby a central longitudinal passage and having a pair of circularapertures aligned laterally of said casing, a plug journaled forrotation in said apertures having a reduced diameter portion at eitherend thereof, a passage through said plug permitting flow of fluidbetween said ports, a ring disposed in each of said ports having a sideface in contact with said plug, a recessed portion at the outerperipheral edge of said side face, an annular groove spaced from saidrecessed portion and a iiared throat area adjacent the opening of saidport, a first seal ring disposed in said recessed portion in sealingengagement with said plug and with said casing, a second seal ringdisposed in said annular groove in sealing engagement with said casingand a third seal ring at each end of said plug disposed in sealingengagement between said reduced portions of said plug and said casing.

3. In a Valve structure, a casing having a plurality of ports, acylindrical plug valve journaled in said casing for opening and closingsaid ports, a iirst seal ring disposed in each of said ports, aretaining member disposed about said first seal ring in each of saidports to urge said first seal rings into sealing engagement with thewalls of said ports, each of said retaining members having a peripheralgroove at its inward end portion, and a second seal ring disposed ineach of said grooves in sealing contact with the cylindrical surface ofsaid plug valve.

4. A valve comprising a chamber having a plurality of fluid ports, acylindrical plug valve member journaled in said chamber for opening andclosing said ports to control the flow of fluid therethrough, and meanscooperating with said valve member and chamber for sealing said ports toprevent leakage between said valve member and chamber when the valvemember is in its closed position, said means being substantially in theform of an annulus at each side of said valve member and surrounding andof a greater external diameter than said ports, each annulus having acircular groove containing a sealing ring for cooperation with aninternal surface of said other side of each annulus.

5. a valve comprising a chamber having a pluralityv of fluid ports, acylindrical plug valve member rotatably journaled in said chamber foropening and closing said ports to control the iiow cf fluidtherethrough, and means cooperating with said valve member and chamberfor sealing said ports to prevent leakage between said valve member andchamber when the valve member is inits closed position, said means beingin the form of an annulus associated With each port and surrounding andof a greater external diameter than. the associated port, each annulushaving a circular groove containing a sealing ring for cooperation withthe internal surface of said chainber, a shoulder extending from saidinternal sur- .face on each side of the valve member and a'butted by theassociated annulus for restraining said annulus from movement laterallyin one direction, each annulus having a laterally eX- tending, circularshank portion having a surface adapted to closely fit that of said valvemember, a circular sleeve encircling each annulus and having an endsurface also closely fitting the cylindrical surface of said valvemember, and aV I second sealing ring associated with each port andencircling the shank portion of each annulus and nested between it andsaid sleeve and engaging a surface of said valve member, therebyrestraining each annulus from lateral movement in the other direction. Y

6. In a valve structure, a casing having inlet and outlet ports with arotatable cylindrical plug-type valve member journaled in said casingbetween said ports, a sealing ring structure in each of said portsincluding a separate retaining ring for each port having at least twospaced generally parallel resilient seal rings, said retaining ringseach having spaced annular pockets each partially defined by an inclinedsurface, there being one inclined surface for each seal ring, one beinginclined for the wedging of one ring against said valve member and theother being inclined for the wedging of the other ring against the innercasmg wall about said one opening.

PETER LAWRENCE MIKESKA.

REFERENCES CITED vThe following references are of record in file of thispatent: the

UNITED STATES PATENTS

